Antikythera mechanism

You discovered the world's first computer! The Antikythera Mechanism was built by the ancient Greeks sometime between 150 and 100 BC, and, with over thirty gears hidden behind its dials, it is the earliest, most technologically advanced device created by humans. As with many things related to time and space, chance played a significant role in the discovery of this ancient machine. It was found in 1900 by a group of sponge divers who were blown off course by a storm and found themselves diving in unfamiliar waters.

When first discovered, it was housed in a wooden box and nobody paid much attention to it. When the box decomposed and fell apart, scientists noticed gears sticking out of the bronze lump, but it was still largely ignored. Finally, in 1951, an English physicist Derek J de Solla Price became interested in the device and was able to use newly developed x-ray technology to reveal some of its secrets. Scientists are still uncovering the secrets of this amazing machine using 3D scanning.

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Charlottesville Women in Tech (CWIT) is an organization for emerging and established professionals that provides human connections and resources for women and girls interested in or associated with technology. Our vision is to bridge the gender gap in tech by providing a safe and welcoming environment for women and girls to connect, learn and collaborate in Charlottesville.

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